Cigarette roller



Se t. 5, 1933. H. F. LIGON 1,925,640

CIGARETTE ROLLER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IE INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 5, 1933. H. F. LIGON 1,925,640

CIGARETTE ROLLER v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1931 7 8 27 fig. 4

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ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1933 PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE ROLLER Henry F. Ligon, Atlanta, Ga.

Application December 14, 1931 Serial No. 580,965

7 Claims.

The object of this, my present invention, is the provision of a cigarette rolling device which is in the nature of a box or case of a size that may be conveniently carried in the pocket of the user and which includes a body and a hinged closure and means, comprising mechanism carried by both the body and the closure and rendered operable when the closure is moved to cover the body to produce a rolled cigarette which is accessible to the user when the cover is again moved to open position and whereby a cigarette may be rolled and a rolled cigarette obtained upon the successive opening and closing of the cover.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in closed position.

Figure 2 is an approximately central longitudinal sectional view of the device when the parts are in open position.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the cover partly moved to closed position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device as disclosed by Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combined table, rails and cigarette receiving tray or receptacle.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the roller carrying member.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 7.-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

As disclosed by the drawings the improvement is of box-like formation and is in the nature of a case of a size that may be conveniently carried in a pocket of the user. improvement, except the fabric belt or apron are preferably constructed of metal, but obviously other suitable material may be employed.

The body member 1 of the device has its front centrally provided with upper and-lower transverse slots respectively, for the reception of a hook 2 formed upon the upper end of the latch plate 3, and for a finger piece 4 which is preferably formed by slitting the lower portion of the plate and bending the metal bounded by the slit outwardly. The lower and bifurcated end of the latch plate 3 is rolled upon itself to provide eyes 5 for a pivot rod 6 whose ends are preferably fixed in openings in the side walls of the body, 1. An angle flat spring plate 7 has its lower arm held purpose which will presently be apparent.

All of the parts of the against the bottom of the body 1 by the pivot rod 6 and its second arm held in engagement with the latch plate to move the same against the outer end of the body and thus project the hook 2 of the latch through the upper opening and the finger piece 4 through the lower opening in the end of the body.

The rear wall, at the second end of the body 1, has its top portion cut away for a suitable distance and the upper edge of the said rear wall is rolled upon itself and the said rolled portion is cut-away at determined intervals to provide round knuckles 8 which receive therebetween similar knuckles 9 on one of the ends of the flanged top or cover 10 of the device. A pivot pin 11 passes through the knuckles for hingedly associating the cover 10 with the body 1.

The table of the device comprises a substantially rectangular plate 12. The table is arranged between side members 13 and the said side members and table are formed from a single plate, the table being provided by centrally notching the outer ends of the plate and thereafter bending the plate in a line with the sides of the table and at a right-angle with respect to said table. The notches 14 thus provide the ends of the sides 13 with downwardly extending portions 15 and 16, respectively, and the lower edges of the part 16 are bent upon themselves and extended in the same direction to provide the lower spaced walls 17 for a cigarette receiving tray. The depending portions 15 have their outer or lower edges arranged in a line with the said spaced bottom walls 1'7. The lower and outer corners of the, portions 15 are notched, as at 18, for a The side members have their upper edges for the major portion of their length parallel with the table 12, the outer edges of the said sides 13 providing the rails for a track. These rails directly above the parts 15 and at the rear end of the table 12 are formed with inwardly rounded depressions 20 which merge into upwardly directed rearwardly extended angle edges 21 which are formed upon the rear and widened portions 19 of the said rails 13.

A double headed pivot rod 23 has its body portion passed through alining openings 22 adjacent to the upper or outer ends of the parts 19 and through openings provided therefor adjacent to the upper corners of the sides of the body and above the hinged connection between the body and cover 10.

A double headed rod 24 is arranged in alining openings in the sides of the body, adjacent to the inner and lower corner thereof, and this rod supports thereon the oppositely disposed coils 25 of a spring, the outer ends of the coils being connected by a ball 26 which straddles the depending portions 15 of the rails 13 and is received between the notches 14 to contact with the under face of the table 12. The inner convolutions- -of the coils 25 are formed with short finger extensions 27 that are in contact with the bottom of the body 1 and which normally swing the track and table on the pivot rod 23 to an upward or outward angle with respect to the body as disclosed by Figure 2 of the drawings. The notched lower corners 18 of the rear depending portions 15 of the rails receive therein the coiled portion of the spring and the supporting rod 24 for said spring.

The bail 26 and the fingers 27 are disposed at opposite angles with respect to the coiled portions of the spring.

A rod 28 passes transversely through the tray or receptacle above the lower wall 17 thereof and is received through openings adjacent to the lower or inner corners of the portions 16 of the rails and this rod also passes through a hem 28 in one end of a fabric sheet or apron 29. The apron is directed over the table 12 and is of a length in excess of the table. The second hemmed end 281) of the apron has passed therethrough another rod 30 that passes through openings 31 in the depending rear sides 15 of the rails 13. The rods 28 and 30 are held from longitudinal movement. The apron is directed over a roller 32, the said roller being provided with trunnions 33 that are freely journaled through bearing openings in the parallel arms 34 that are formed with and project beyond a plate 35. The plate 35 has its outer edge formed with a depending flange 36 and this flange, adjacent to the sides 3'7 of the plate 35 (from which the arms 34 project) has openings 43 adjacent to the inner ends thereof. The space between the ends of the flange 36 and adjacent sides or flanges 3'7 of the plate 35 is designed to accommodate the rails 13 when the cover 10 is closed on the body 1. The outer corners of the sides 3'7 are provided with openings for a rod or shaft 38 that is received through the sides of the cover 10. There is arranged around the rod 38 of the coil portions 39 of a spring. The confronting ends of the coiled portions 39 of the spring are connected together by a bail 40, and the outer ends of the said coiled portions are provided with arm extensions 41 that have their outer ends headed, as at 42, and which arms are passed through the referred to openings 43 on the flange 36 of the plate 35.

The outer and lower end wall of the cover is rolled upon itself, as at-43 and is provided directly opposite the said rolled portion with a notch or opening 44 that affords a keeper for the jaw 2 of the latch plate 3, when the cover is swung over the body 1, while the sides of the body 1 are provided with notches 44 that enter from their upper edges and receive therein the rod 38 when the cover is closed on the body. The roller 32 is influenced by the coiled spring 39 against the upper or active faces of the track provided by the rails 13, and, as previously stated, the table is spring influenced in an opposite direction.

In operation the parts are arranged in the position disclosed by Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. A portion of the apron is moved by hand into the space between the table and the depending parts of the rails 13 to form the same with a loop 45 that is disposed below the downwardly rounded or concaved parts 20 of the rails. A cigarette paper 46 is arranged upon a portion of the apron which is now drawn taut over the table 12, the outer and adhesively coated end 46' of the said paper being moistened and the opposite end thereof being partly received in the loop 45. A moderate pinch of cigarette tobacco is arranged in the loop 45 and is, of course, brought against the portion of the cigarette paper received in the said loop. The cover 10 is now swung to closed position and is engaged by the latch on the body. The closing of the cover causes the roller 32 to turn freely in its bearings and the trunnions thereof to travel downwardly over the inclined portions 21 of the rails of the track, and thereafter into the concaved portions of the said track rails. On further movement the roller moves the apron to cause the initially looped portion thereof to be brought to circular formation and to also roll the paper around the tobacco and likewise compressing a portion of the paper against the moistened glued end 46' thereof, thereby producing a perfectly rolled' cigarette. As the roller is moved further by the closing of the cover 10 over the track the same will be brought above the receiving tray or receptacle 48 and cause the rolled cigarette to be deposited into the said tray. The pressure of the roller 32 on the table 12 and likewise the pressure of the trunnions 33 on the rails of the track swing the rails and table into the body 1 as disclosed by Figure 6 of the drawings and hold the said table and track in the body when the cover is fully closed. When a pressure is exerted upon the finger piece 4 the latch releases the cover and the opening of the cover returns the parts to their initial position as above described. The operator may remove the cigarette by simply placing his forefinger and thumb in the central space provided by the bottom 17 of the receptacle 48 and before again closing the case may arrange the tobacco and cigarette paper in proper position for the making of another cigarette. When the case is closed the rod 38 is received in the notches 44 of the body 1 so that the top of the cover, when closed, will be arranged in parallelism with the bottom of the body 1.

With my improvement the cigarette may be manufactured by the closing of the cover on the body and by the opening of the said closurethe made cigarette may be readily removed from the tray and another cigarette may be manufactured when the cover is again closed. From practice I have found that the improvement produces a perfect cigarette that is not too tightly rolled as the same is merely shaped and sealed so that such cigarettes may be more freely smoked than can the ordinary manufactured cigarette. The improvement uses less tobacco than is ordinarily employed, as it does not depend upon the rolling of a big pinch of tobacco down to cigarette size but merely presses a mod erate pinch of tobacco to the right size and seals it in the papers and, as previously stated, the size of the improvement is such that the same may be conveniently carried in the pocket of the user or stored in a small space.

While I have illustrated a satisfactory embodiment of my improved device, my features of invention are capable of extended application and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structure herein shown and described and, therefore, hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, side elements pivoted to the walls of said case, a table connecting said side elements, an apron secured to said side elements and engaging the table, a roller engaging the side elements and the table and having the apron passing thereabout, and means connecting the roller to the cover to cause movement of said roller by the opening and closing of the cover.

2. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, side elements pivoted to the walls of said case and the upper edges thereof having depressions, a table connecting said side elements, an apron secured to said side elements and engaging the table, a roller engaging the side elements and the table and having the apron passing thereabout, means connecting the roller to the cover to cause movement of said roller by the opening and closing of the cover, tension means urging the table towards the roller, and tension means urging the roller towards the table.

3. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, side elements pivoted to the walls of said case and the upper edges thereof having depressions, a table connecting said side elements, an apron secured to said side elements and engaging the table, a roller engaging the side elements and the table and having the apron passing thereabout, connected spaced arms hinged to the cover and carrying the roller, tension means urging the roller towards the table and tension means urging the table towards the roller.

4. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, a table in the case, side elements carried by the table and projecting beyond the latter and having their upper edges disposed in a plane above the table, and provided with depressions, means hinging the side elements to the walls of the case, an apron secured to the side elements and engaging the table, a roller for engagement with the apron and table, pintles on the roller and engaging the upper edges of the side elements, means hingedly connecting the pintles to the cover, tension means urging the roller towards the table and tension means urging the table towards the roller.

5. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, a table in the case, side elements carried by the table and projecting, beyond the latter and having their upper edges disposed in a plane above the table, and provided with depressions, means hinging the side elements to walls of the case, an apron secured to the side elements and engaging the table, a roller for engagement with the apron and table, pintles on the roller and engaging the upper edges of the side elements, connected spaced arms hinged to the cover and having the pintles journaled thereto, tension means urging the table towards the roller and tension means engaging the connected arms to urge the roller towards the table.

6. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, a table in the case, side elements carried by'the table and projecting beyond the latter and having their upper edges disposed in a plane above the table, and provided with depressions, means hinging the side elements to the walls of the case, an apron secured to the side elements and engaging the table, a roller for engagement with the apron and table, pintles on the roller and engaging the upper edges of the side elements, connected spaced arms hinged to the cover and having the pintles journaled thereto. tension means urging the table towards the roller and tension means engaging the connected arms to urge the roller towards the table, and inwardly extending portions on the side elements and disposed in a plane below the table to cooperate with said side elements in forming a cigarette receptacle.

7. A cigarette roller comprising a case, a cover hinged to the case for opening and closing the latter, a table in said case, side elements carried by the table, and having their upper edges disposed in a plane above the table and provided with depressions arranged laterally of the table, means hinging the side elements to the case, an apron resting on the table and having its ends secured to the side elements laterally of the opposite edges of the table, a roller engaging the apron and riding upon the table, pintles on said roller and engaging the upper edges of the side elements, means hingedly connecting the pintles to the cover, tension means urging the table towards the roller, tension means urging the roller towards the table, and tray forming elements carried by the side elements laterally of one edge of the table and located in a plane below said table.

, HENRY F. LIGON. 

